Court halts ice racing

Injunction granted in township lawsuit

November 9, 2012

ESCANABA - In a court ruling this morning, Escanaba Township was granted an injunction to prevent ice racing operations on property owned by members of the Barron family.

Escanaba Township filed a civil lawsuit in January seeking a permanent injunction to stop racing at a new ice track constructed a year ago on N.7 Road, north of County 420 21st Road.

The lawsuit targeted property owner Robert Barron of Gladstone, Barron Farms, Thomas Barron of Escanaba, and Irene Barron Revocable Living Trust in care of Dan Barron of Gladstone.

The complaint claimed construction of the track violated the township's zoning requirements, specifically that the property is not zoned to use for ice racing, a site plan was never submitted, and a zoning compliance permit application was not submitted.

During this morning's court hearing, Circuit Court Judge Stephen Davis ruled the ice racing to stop because township approval was never granted to construct the track or use the land for ice racing. In addition, no applications were filed and no fees were paid, he said, describing the ice track as a nuisance because it is not an authorized use of the land.